New House rules for Woolverton
Ric and Gina House, who own the Old Manor hotel at Keynsham, near Bristol, have snapped up the 12-bedroom Woolverton House hotel near Bath. Agent Robert Barry & Co said the 200-year-old former rectory had generated a lot of interest and sold for more than the £750,000 asking price. The previous owners were Noel and Marina Terry.
Classic clinches fourth hotel deal
Manchester-based property developer Classic Homes has bought its fourth hotel in Greater Manchester with the purchase of the 27-bedroom Imperial hotel in Hathersage Road. It paid a sum close to the £595,000 sought by agent Christie & Co on behalf of previous owner Brian Holland.
Poole pair take over Bodmin's Westberry
The 21-bedroom Westberry hotel in Bodmin, Cornwall, has been bought by Robert and Carol Marshall of Poole. The price paid was very close to the £650,000 asked by Robert Barry & Co, which acted for previous owners John and Anne Cornish, who have run the hotel for the past 19 years.
First-timer buys Ash Cottage
First-time hotelier Barry Davies is the new owner of the eight-bedroom Ash Cottage guesthouse in Red Lion Square, Grasmere, Cumbria. He bought the property from Hugh and Mary Sharrock for an undisclosed amount near the £495,000 asking price. The agent was Christie & Co.
Sapphire Suite adds glint to Birmingham
The privately owned Sapphire Conference and Banqueting Suite has opened in Birmingham, offering 10,000sq ft of space across two levels that can take as many as 450 people. The suite, which has a licensed bar, stage and dance floor, does not have bedrooms but has forged a marketing alliance with the nearby Paragon hotel.
Stallard raises his own Royal standard
First-time hotelier Nigel Stallard has bought the 95-bedroom Royal hotel in Woolacombe, north Devon, for a sum close to the £1.75m sought by agent Christie & Co. The previous owner, the Sterling Hotel Group, is moving away from coaching hotels towards a branded, more commercially orientated operation.
Ilchester Arms chef buys out owners
David and Jonathan Butler have sold the Ilchester Arms hotel and restaurant, near Yeovil in Somerset, to chef Brendan McGee and his wife, Lucy, for close to the £550,000 asking price. The eight-bedroom property, which has two bars, an 18-seat bistro, a 35-seat restaurant and a function room, was sold through Christie & Co.
Ashton boxes clever with Lockerbie buy
Guy Ashton has bought the 32-bedroom Lockerbie Manor hotel at Lockerbie in Dumfriesshire from Manor Lord (Hotels) off an asking price of £795,000. The Georgian manor was built in 1814 for Sir William Douglas and Dame Grace Johnstone, whose great-grandson, John Sholto Douglas, is believed to have developed the Queensberry boxing rules in the house. The agent was Christie & Co.